Conservation

Environmental and waterway news.

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Two-Day Mini Lobster Season: July 30-31

Every July when the official mini-lobster season kicks off, the coastal areas of Florida are flooded with “bug-hunters” trying to find their share of the tasty crustaceans. There are two Florida Lobster Seasons, the two-day mini season and the eight-month regular lobster season. The mini lobster season is always the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. This year the mini season falls on July 30th and 31st. The regular lobster season opens August 6, running through March 31.

Estuaries and Water Quality Management

Estuaries are some of the most productive and biologically diverse environments around Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. They are the areas where freshwater drained from the land meets and mixes with seawater to form a brackish water body. Estuaries and bays serve as important nurseries for fish.

Monofilament fishing line perilous for pelicans

Fishing is an important part of the Florida lifestyle as well as its economy. In spite of the obvious benefits, this leisure-time activity, on occasion, can lead to problems for birds and other wildlife such as sea turtles and manatees. According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists, monofilament fishing line and fishing hooks can entangle these animals, leading to injury and even death.

Giant Prehistoric Turtle Discovered at Apalachicola!

That headline may be a bit of hyperbole, but we’re excited nonetheless! (We do love our reptiles around here at Apalachicola Riverkeeper). The ‘new’ turtle is the Alligator Snapping Turtle.
sea turtle conservation

Help Protect Our Sea Turtles

Marine turtles are some of the most remarkable creatures you may encounter out on the water. Their numbers have declined, and all marine turtles are classified as either threatened or endangered.

There is a “Silver Bullet”; Use it NOW

By Mark D. Perry, Executive Director, Florida Oceanographic Society We all remember the Lone Ranger; He used silver bullets as a symbol …

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Florida’s Chain Pickerel

In the northern parts of our great country, anglers enjoy chasing down enormous pike and elusive musky. We Floridians don’t usually give a second thought, but they are in Florida!

LABAN WINS 34TH BASTILLE DAY KINGFISH TOURNAMENT WITH 26.90-POUND KINGFISH

Stretching 500 miles across the northern side of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Trench is the deepest in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Art of Kicking Fish

When the fish gets in the strike zone of the dolphins tail, you can see the dolphin looking at the fish and lining up the kick. It's a difficult technique to learn, and not all dolphins know how to do it. However, once learned, it provides an obvious advantage over simply chasing a fish and catching it with the mouth. A quick, precise flip of the tail and dinner is served, versus chasing a fish down and catching it with the mouth which can often take a few minutes and require a lot of energy.